Houston man's pickup burns half-hour after he gets GM recall notice

Updated 1:56 pm, Monday, January 20, 2014

Houston wrestling coach Allen Paul said he received a recall notice on his 2014 Chevy Silverado just 30 minutes before his truck burst into flames.

Paul said his truck slowed down and all of the dash interior lights came on as he was driving along Richmond around 7 p.m. Tuesday. It was then that he noticed a fireball under the hood.

Paul bolted from the cab and within 30 seconds he said the truck’s front end was engulfed in flames.

Late last week, General Motors issued around 370,000 recall letters for 2014 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks. A software malfunction makes an idling truck heat up to levels that can start a fast-moving fire, melting plastic parts and leading to total destruction of the vehicle, according to GM.

Paul, the head wrestling coach at St. John’s School, believes his truck is a victim of the recall defect.

Truck owners are to report to a GM dealership as soon as possible for a no-charge fix, which should only take half an hour, according to GM spokesman Alan Adler. In the meantime, owners are warned not to let their vehicle idle.

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(Photos by Allen Paul)

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This is the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado in new condition.

This is the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado in new condition.

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado

2014 Chevrolet Silverado

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado

2014 Chevrolet Silverado

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado

2014 Chevrolet Silverado

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado

2014 Chevrolet Silverado

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado

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2014 Chevrolet Silverado

2014 Chevrolet Silverado

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Houston man's pickup burns half-hour after he gets GM recall notice

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According to the recall letters, only those trucks equipped with a 4.3 liter or 5.3 liter engine are at risk for fire. Trucks with 6.2 liter engines are not a part of the recall.

As of Friday afternoon, Adler said his company only knew of 10 confirmed fires that were related to the defect. He added that the majority of the problems were reported in colder areas, like the northern parts of the US and Canada.

“That’s not to say it can’t happen elsewhere,” said Adler.

He said no fatalities have been reported, but one person was treated for smoke inhalation related to one of the fires.

Adler said that employees at a regional GM office are aware of Paul’s recent truck fire and are working to assist the Houston man.

“I’m a teacher so I get paid in smiles and high fives,” Paul said, adding that he hopes to get compensated for his personal loss. The truck was a Christmas present to himself, he said.

“We’re doing everything we can to put the customer first,” said Adler.